Uncovering the Quabbin: facts

A Little History

New Salem’s history began on December 31, 1734 when the General Court granted six miles square to 60 residents of Salem
Later it became larger, up to 4,000 acres and 13 miles long
The first settler was Jeremiah Meacham who came to the area in 1737
Soil in the area was not good for farming
New Salem was incorporated June 15, 1753
The industries that was in New Salem then were sawmills, gristmills, tanneries, making palm leaf hats, and making butter
Town records were destroyed in a fire 1856

Boundry map dated 1734 courtesy of Petersham Historical Society

Photo courtesy of Swift River Valley Historical Society

Quabbin Aqueduct

The Quabbin Aqueduct, 13 feet in diameter, carries water first to the Ware River intake in Barre

Gravity is responsible for taking the water through the aqueduct toward Boston

The Dorchester Tunnel was built in a bad location and it immediately cracked when it was completed in 1975

This chart shows some interesting facts about the aqueduct

Length

24.6 miles

Height

12 feet, 9 inches

Width

11 feet

Wall thickness

3 inches

Ceiling thickness

8 inches

Capacity – Quabbin to Wachusett

600 million gallons/day

Water travel time - Quabbin to Wachusett

6-12 hours

Close-up of Winsor Dam

Signpost showing Quabbin statistics

Dams

Winsor Dam was built in 1935

Length

2,640 feet

Maximum height above bedrock

295 feet

Height above Swift River

170 feet

Amount of fill used

4 million cubic yards

Width at top/ bottom

35 feet /724 feet

Number of caissons

A caisson is a watertight box or chamber used for carrying on construction work under water or as a foundation.

Winsor Dam Spillway

Length

400 feet

Height

4-15 feet

Width

7-12 feet

Height above riverbed

155 feet

Goodnough Dike

Built

1933-1938

Length

2,140 feet

Width top/ bottom

35 feet/ 878 feet

Fill used

2.5 million cubic yards

Number of caissons

Home	New Salem Then	Controversies	Quabbin Facts	Quabbin Wildlife
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Home	New Salem Then	Controversies	Quabbin Facts	Quabbin Wildlife
Links	New Salem Now	Teacher	Technology	Experts and Bibliography

The information presented on this page was researched and written by third grade students.

Quabbin Facts

Photo courtesy of the Swift River Valley Historical Society

A Little History

Boundry map dated 1734 courtesy of Petersham Historical Society

Photo courtesy of Swift River Valley Historical Society

Quabbin Aqueduct

Close-up of Winsor Dam

Signpost showing Quabbin statistics

Dams

Winsor Dam was built in 1935

A caisson is a watertight box or chamber used for carrying on construction work under water or as a foundation.

Winsor Dam Spillway

Goodnough Dike